Everything Torii Hunter does is electric. The way he punishes homers. The way he scampers around the bases. The way he gregariously answers questions. The way he changes the game defensively.

You will not find a better defensive outfielder than Hunter, folks, and he showed why last night. In the Twins’ 2-0 ALDS Game 1 win, their magnificent centerfielder came through with two mesmerizing defensive plays.

The first came in the bottom of the second with Jorge Posada on third, Hideki Matsui on first and the Yankees looking as if they were at least about to break through against Johan Santana. That’s when John Olerud lofted a soft fly to center.

Hunter lined up Olerud’s ball perfectly, got a running start, made the catch and let fly at the same time Posada broke for home.

“I just wanted to get behind the ball,” Hunter said, “get something on the ball and make an accurate throw.”

Accurate? Hunter gunned a perfect one-hop laser to the plate, allowing catcher Henry Blanco the chance to nab Posada with a tag on his left elbow. Threat averted. Inning over.

“Torii is the best centerfielder in the game,” Blanco said, as if there were no reason to expect Hunter to do anything but make a superb peg. “The throw was right on the money.”

But Hunter, who’s about to win his fourth straight Gold Glove, wasn’t done yet. In the eighth, Alex Rodriguez led off with a monster drive to deep center, and Hunter took off.

Said Hunter, “When he hit it, I thought maybe I had a chance.”

Said A-Rod, “I knew if it stayed in the park, Torii would have it.”

It did, and Torii did. Just as Rodriguez’s ball was about to either clear or bounce off the top of the fence, Hunter brought it back. He hauled in the drive with a spectacular catch, before crashing to the dirt and tumbling over.

“If it didn’t go out, I was going to have it,” Hunter said.

It was the type of play that could have very well changed the game’s complexion. But this is what Hunter does. He’s the Twins’ version of the Yankees’ shortstop.

“I think Torii Hunter would be our [Derek] Jeter,” manager Ron Gardenhire said Monday. “The guys look up to Torii. He’s the guy that we look to get things going.”